IllustrationWINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR BROKE.
1996 Geo Metro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Geo Metro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Metro years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 88 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
88 reportsTHE OWNER GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE BRAKES NEVER DID STOP THE CAR AND REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON AT ALL EITHER.
DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
OWNER HAS VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE BEING A SAFETY PROBLEM, VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, OWNER NOTES THAT SHE WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION ,RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, RPMS INCREASED FROM 900 TO 4000 RPMS. *AK
DURING BRAKING EFFORTS VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AROUND 50-55MPH. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FREELY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END ACCIDENT, FORCE OF AIRBAG BLEW PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OUTWARDS, VEHICLE REARENDEDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FOUR CAR COLLISION.*AK
PASSENGER'S SEAT ROCKS.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.